Community Continence Clinics

The Community Continence Team

The Community Continence Team support children under 16 from Sheffield with any of the following:

• bedwetting from age six if there has been no response to professional advice regarding bladder training and other basic night wetting advice for three months.
• day-time wetting from age four if advice has been given for three months regarding increasing drinks and regular toileting and their GP has excluded constipation and urinary tract infections.
• constipation when not responding to treatment by their GP for three months.
• soiling when not responding to treatment by their GP for three months.
• toilet training problems from age four for children with special needs, after adequate input and supervision from their GP, health visitor or MAST support workers.

We hold clinics at Centenary House and the Northern General Hospital where we assess children thoroughly and arrange necessary investigations.

The community continence team has a number of doctors, specialist continence nurses and support workers along with the input from a clinical psychologist.

What happens at a continence clinic appointment?

You and your child will have the opportunity to talk about the problem and how it affects you both. You will be asked to complete charts prior to your appointment to help assess your child’s problems.

A full assessment will be carried out and sometimes a physical examination is necessary. A urine sample may also be needed, other investigations may be arranged.

During the appointment you will be given information about your child’s condition and you will also be involved in deciding the best course of action to help your child. This could include advice about drinks and diet, medication, alarm therapy (for bedwetting) and toilet training plans.

Children and parents are often asked to fill in charts to help with the diagnostic process and further treatment plans.

Referrals

GPs, health visitors, school nurses and secondary care professionals can refer to our service. 

Referrals for children with complex needs for product service only accepted from GP’s or neurodisability consultants and after five years of age, as per Bowel and Bladder UK (Guidance for the provision of continence containment products to children and young people 2021).

Referrals encouraged and accepted from age four for children who have complex needs to develop the skills required for toilet training.

Useful websites for advice and resources to help support children with continence difficulties

ERIC – national charity for children with continence problems

Bladder & Bowel UK – national charity for children with continence problems

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – toilet training guidance

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline – management of bedwetting in children and young people

NICE clinical guideline – constipation in children and young people

One Step at a Time (continence.org.au) – a parent’s guide to toilet skills for children with special needs

The Poo Nurses (NHS Dartford and Gravesham) – Childhood constipation service

National Autistic Society – guidance on toileting